Huckabee speaks at S.F. Commonwealth event

Watch video of the entire event

January 31, 2008 12:00:00 AM PST

SAN FRANCISCO --

The major candidate with by far the smallest campaign war chest spoke to San Francisco's Commonwealth Club on Thursday.

Among other topics, Republican Mike Huckabee was asked about the war in Iraq. He said if elected, he would immediately call a summit of Persian Gulf nations, to demand that they ante up their multi-billion dollar pledge to help the U.S. rebuild Iraq.

Huckabee also warned the Baghdad government that under his watch, America won't let its infrastructure continue to crumble while we're rebuilding Iraq.

"We're financing a war for your benefit and you're not even helping pay for it. We're paying not just with dollars, but with the blood of American men and women and that day has got to come to an end and the day you're going to start paying for it starts on my first day as president," said Huckabee.

A Code Pink protestor who tried to interrupt Huckabee was hustled out of the auditorium, but Huckabee defended her right to free speech.